About The Film

the deeper the dig. the darker the secrets.

Unearthed, an independent South African feature documentary, investigates fracking in the United States – the technology’s place of origin – in order to understand what this new method of gas extraction could mean for the semi-arid Karoo and other countries who are considering its implementation.

The film covers the extensive journey that Karoo born director, Jolynn Minnaar, took – 18 months of research; over 400 interviews; traveling across South Africa, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom to get to the bottom of the controversial
topic.

Unearthed challenges the assertion that hydraulic fracturing is a safe, time-tested
technology and questions whether shale gas is the solution for our energy-hungry
world.

KAROO CAMPAIGN

Charlie Murens, Graaff-Reinet

With the water contamination, our health and the veld damage on the farms, I feel that it is going to be to our detriment. We want other opportunities for job creation. The government must first come and speak to us on ground level; we come first because we voted them into power. They must listen to what we have to say and if we say “no”, it remains “no”.

Angelina Johnson, Murraysburg

Duval Johnson, Murraysburg

If we look at the lifespan of fracking - it doesn't last long. The job creation isn’t
really there - it is mainly foreign specialized employees and therefore our local
economy wont actually benefit; the development of our people wont progress.
Fracking is a waste of time and money - it wont help the man on the street. We
already have wind and solar projects - we prefer these resources because they
don't pollute the environment and they develop our area.

Katrina Steenberg, Graaff-Reinet

George Murens, Graaff-Reinet

I’ve seen on TV what happened in other countries where they are fracking. It
could pollute our environment and then? What happens to us? I am not happy.
The government has not spoken with us at all. Most of the people around here
know nothing about it.

David Jafta, Murraysburg

Alida Louw, Paul Avenant, Murraysburg

I think people see the immediate gratification of now - money for now, jobs for
now but no one is thinking 5 or 10 years into the future. And in the end, I dont
think the benefits will reach us on the ground. The rich are going to get richer
and the poor are going to get poorer.

Alicia Hugo, Murraysburg

Johnny van der Merwe, Murraysburg

Shell has promised that if they use or pollute our water, they will replace it. How
exactly are they going to do that? Driving it in with trucks that’s going to further
pollute our environment? Pipelines? And when will they do it? Years after they’ve
left the country? They don’t give us enough information; they avoid our
questions.